Split box shoe system and method

ABSTRACT

A box system for a pair of shoes of the same or different size or appearance is provided including a rectangular outer box, and first and second triangular inner boxes. Each of the first and second triangular inner boxes receives a different one of the shoes in the pair. Each of the first and second triangular inner boxes with the shoes therein are configured to be received within the rectangular outer box. Each of the inner boxes has a side wall. The inner boxes are oriented in the outer box such that the longest side walls of each of the inner boxes are proximate to other when the inner boxes are received in the outer box. Each of said triangular inner boxes comprises a corner which forms a right angle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a box system and method for inventorying, packaging and shipping pairs of shoes and more particularly for such a system and method which allows the inventorying, packaging and shipping of pairs of shoes of the same or different size or appearance.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Pairs of shoes of the same size and appearance are customarily inventoried, packaged and shipped together in a single rectangular box made of relatively thin cardboard. However, using a singular rectangular box does not allow for inventorying, packaging and shipping pairs of shoes of different size or appearance, other than by utilizing separate rectangular boxes, one for each shoe. The use of separate boxes for pairs of shoes of different size or appearance greatly increases the cost of inventorying, packaging and shipping the shoes.

Most of the population (60%) have feet that are of a different size. Most women (88%) in the United States wear shoes that are too small resulting in blisters, cuts and painful long-term health issues. Bunions occur in many (55%-75%) women. It is estimated that the majority of people over 21 years of age ((80%) have at least one problem with their feet. There are no industry standards for comfort.

That is particularly true of high fashion shoes where comfort may be sacrificed for style. For example, it has been noted that pain often begins 20-66 minutes after a woman puts on high heel shoes even though women need to wear the shoes for six or more hours at a time.

Further, many people purchase footwear through the Internet and thus without the opportunity to try the shoes on before they are ordered. That results in a high rate of return because one or both of the shoes in the pair do not fit properly.

Most people do not clearly know their correct shoe size and have not had their feet professionally sized since they were young adults. Moreover, each manufacturer has their own sizing, with very little consistency among shoe brands or shoe styles, making it difficult for a customer to know what size shoe to order. Most shoe companies only offer one “standard” shoe width of their shoes, forcing customers to try and cram their feet into shoes they would like to purchase.

It is common to inventory shoes of the same size or appearance in pairs, in a single box. However, that system creates difficulties when one of the shoes in the pair does not fit the consumer. If both shoes in the pair do not fit the consumer, the consumer will not purchase the shoes, resulting in a lost sale, or will be provided with a shoe of a different size or appearance, leaving a box with a single shoe in inventory which cannot be sold.

There is therefore a need for a box system and method for inventorying, packaging and shipping pairs of shoes of the same or different size or appearance which allows the inventorying, packaging and shipping of the shoes in an inexpensive, efficient and user friendly manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a split box shoe system which includes two triangular boxes, each configured to receive a different one of the shoes of a pair. Together the triangular boxes form a rectangular shaped unit configured to be received in a rectangular outer box. The shoes in the pair may be of sale or different size or different appearance, including different color or ornamentation. The triangular boxes can be separated to allow the shoes to be inventoried, packaged and shipped separately. The customer may customize the purchase by selecting shoes of different width or length, different color or different ornamentation, such as different color laces.

If a customer wishes to return one shoe of the pair, for example because on one forefoot is wider or the one foot has a bunion, it is not necessary for the customer to ship back both shoes of the pair, or the rectangular outer box. The customer can use one of the triangular inner boxes for shipping the single shoe to be returned.

The use of separate inner boxes also allows more flexible and efficient inventorying because each shoe in the pair can be stored and sold separately, eliminating the necessity of storing and selling only shoes of a pair of the same size and appearance.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a box system for a pair of shoes is provided. The box system includes an outer box, and first and second inner boxes. Each of the first and second inner boxes are configured to receive a different one of the shoes in the pair. Each of the first and second inner boxes are configured to be received within the outer box.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a box system for a pair of shoes of a first and second size or appearance is provided. The box system includes an outer box, and first and second inner boxes. The first inner box is configured to receive a shoe of the pair of a first size or appearance. The second inner box is configured to receive a shoe of the pair of the second size or appearance. Each of the first and second inner boxes is configured to be received within the outer box.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a box system for a pair of shoes of different size or appearance is provided. The box system includes a rectangular outer box, and first and second triangular inner boxes. Each of the first and second triangular inner boxes is configured to receive a different one of the shoes in the pair. Each of the first and second triangular inner boxes is configured to be received within the rectangular outer box.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging a pair of shoes is provided. The method includes the steps of: placing one of the shoes of the pair in a first inner box; placing the other of the shoes of the pair in a second inner box; placing the first inner box in an outer box; and placing the second inner box in the outer.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging a pair of shoes of different size or appearance is provided. The method includes the steps of: placing one of the shoes of different size or appearance of the pair in a first inner box; placing the other of the shoes of different size or appearance of the pair in a second inner box; placing the first inner box in an outer box; and placing the second inner box in the outer box.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a method for packaging a pair of shoes is provided. The method includes the steps of: placing one of the shoes of the pair in a first triangular inner box; placing the other of the shoes of the pair in a second triangular inner box; placing the first inner box in a rectangular outer box; and placing the second inner box in the rectangular outer box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a split box shoe system and method as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the split box shoe system of the present invention showing the outer box with the lid open and the inner boxes received therein, the inner boxes each containing one of the shoes of a pair;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the box system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box system of FIG. 1 with the lid of the out box open, the inner boxes explodes with the lids thereof open and the shoes exploded;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of one of the inner boxes with the lid closed, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner box of FIG. 4 with the lid open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in the drawings, the present invention relates to a box system for a pair of shoes of the same or different size or appearance which includes an outer box, generally designated A, and first and second inner boxes, each of which is generally designated B.

Outer box A has a rectangular body including four walls 10 and a bottom (not visible in the drawings) which define an interior space or compartment. A lid 12 is connected to the upper edge of the rear wall. Lid 12 is moveable between an open position (as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), in which the interior space of the box body is accessible and a closed position, wherein the interior space of the outer box is enclosed.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the inner boxes B is formed of three walls 14 and a bottom 16. Each of the boxes B has the shape of a right triangle when viewed from the top.

A lid 18 is attached to the upper edge of the rear wall 14 of each inner box Lid 18 is movable between an open position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, and a closed position, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Each of the inner boxes B is designed to contain one shoe 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shoes 20 in the boxes B may be a pair of shoes of the same size and appearance (color, surface texture or ornamentation) or may be of different size or appearance. Further, while the shoes 20 are illustrated in the figures as high heel shoes, the box system of the present invention can be used with any type of shoe, including men's or women's shoes, sneakers, high or flat heel, etc.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner boxes B with the shoes 20 therein are configured to be fit snuggly into the outer box A, with the longest side walls of the inner boxes facing each other. This is the way that a pair of shoes would be shipped to the customer.

In the event that the customer wants to return both shoes of the pair, the customer puts the shoes into the inner boxes, puts the inner boxes containing the shoes into the outer box, seals the lid of the outer box and delivers it to the shipper. However, if only one of the shoes is to be returned, the customer need only put the shoe to be returned in one of the inner boxes, seal the lid of the inner box containing the shoe to be returned, and deliver the smaller, lighter inner box containing the shoe being returned to the shipper.

Thus, the method for packaging a pair of shoes of the same or different size and appearance includes the steps of: placing one of the shoes of the pair in a first triangular inner box; placing the other of the shoes of the pair in a second triangular inner box; placing the first inner box into a rectangular outer box; and placing the second inner box into the rectangular outer box.

Aside from the advantages of the split box shoe system described above with respect to packaging and shipping, the method of the present invention allows the shoe supplier to inventory each shoe in a pair separately and can therefore ship shoes of a different size and appearance to a single customer in an inexpensive and efficient manner.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims: 

I claim:
 1. A box system for a pair of shoes comprising an outer box, and first and second inner boxes, each of said first and second inner boxes being configured to receive a different one of the shoes in the pair, and each of said first and second inner boxes being configured to be received within said outer box.
 2. The box system of claim 1 wherein the shoes in the pair are of different size or appearance.
 3. The box system of claim 1 wherein each of said inner boxes comprises a side wall and wherein said side walls of said inner boxes are proximate to each other when said inner boxes are received in said outer box.
 4. A box system for a pair of shoes of first and second size or appearance comprising an outer box, and first and second inner boxes, said first inner box being configured to receive a shoe of the pair of a first size or appearance and said second inner box being configured to receive a shoe of the pair of the second size or appearance, each of said first and second inner boxes being configured to be received within said outer box.
 5. The box system of claim 4 wherein each of said inner boxes comprises a longest side wall and wherein said longest side walls of said inner boxes are proximate to each other when said inner boxes are received in said outer box.
 6. A box system for a pair of shoes of different size or appearance comprising a rectangular outer box, and first and second triangular inner boxes, each of said first and second triangular inner boxes being configured to receive a different one of the shoes in the pair, and each of said first and second triangular inner boxes being configured to be received within said rectangular outer box.
 7. The box system of claim 6 wherein each of said inner boxes comprises a side wall and wherein said side walls of said inner boxes are proximate to each other when said inner boxes are received in said outer box.
 8. The box system of claim 6 wherein each of said triangular inner box comprises a corner which forms a right angle.
 9. A method for packaging a pair of shoes comprising the steps of: (a) placing one of the shoes of the pair in a first inner box; (b) placing the other of the shoes of the pair in a second inner box; (c) placing the first inner box in an outer box; and (d) placing the second inner box in the outer.
 10. A method for packaging a pair of shoes of different size or appearance comprising the steps of: (a) placing one of the shoes of different size or appearance of the pair in a first inner box; (b) placing the other of the shoes of different size or appearance of the pair in a second inner box; (b) placing the first inner box in an outer box; and (c) placing the second inner box in the outer box.
 11. A method for packaging a pair of shoes comprising the steps of: (a) placing one of the shoes of the pair in a first triangular inner box; (b) placing the other of the shoes of the pair in a second triangular inner box; (c) placing the first inner box in a rectangular outer box; and (d) placing the second inner box in the rectangular outer box.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein each of said triangular inner box comprises a corner which forms a right angle. 